Pessary ring electrode system

ABSTRACT

A pessary ring having electrodes for the application of electric currents to counter urinary incontinence in female patients. The ring is composed of a first flexible part having the electrodes at each end and a second tubular part which may be cut to the desired length by the medical practioner and fitted to the electrodes to form a closed ring to fit a particular patient.

United States Patent Kenny et a1.

PESSARY RING ELECTRODE SYSTEM Inventors: John Kenny; Alan Wilds, both ofWelwyn Garden City, England Assignee: Devices Implants Limited, WelwynGarden City, England Filed: Mar. 11, 1974 Appl. No.: 450,244

US. Cl. 128/408, 128/127 Int. Cl A6In 1/04 Field of Search 128/404, 407,408, 127,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Scattergood 128/127 Feb. 18, 19753,374,787 3/1968 Hatke 128/130 3,437,091 4/1969 Jerushalmi et a1 128/4043,800,800 4/1974 Garbe et a1. 128/408 Primary Examiner-William E. KammAttorney, Agent, or FirmWenderoth, Lind & Ponack 5 7] ABSTRACT A pessaryring having electrodes for the application of electric currents tocounter urinary incontinence in female patients. The ring is composed ofa first flexible part having the electrodes at each end and a secondtubular part which may be cut to the desired length by the medicalpractioner and fitted to the electrodes to form a closed ring to fit aparticular patient.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PESSARY RING ELECTRODE SYSTEM The inventionrelates to a pessary ring structure having electrodes wherebystimulating electric potentials may be applied for the control ofurinary incontinence. An object of the invention is to provide a pessaryring structure of this kind which may readily be assembled to any sizeappropriate to fit the particular patient being treated.

According to the invention there is provided a pessary ring structurecomprising first and second limbs adapted to fit together to constitutea closed flexible pessary ring, the first limb comprising a flexiblearm, a metal electrode at or near each end of the arm and an insulatedconductor lead connected to each electrode, the leads extending from thearm for the remote application of stimulating potentials, and the secondlimb comprising a flexible tube which may be cut to a desired length tomake the complete ring fit a particular patient, there being providedcoupling means for coupling the ends of the tube to the respective endsof the arm.

The coupling means may comprise a plug for each end of the tube, theplugs fitting the ends of the tube tightly and being fixed or fitted tothe ends of the arm. The arm may be tubular, at least at its ends, andthe plugs may be pushed or screwed into place in the tubular ends.Preferably the arm is tubular and is filled with a flexible sealingmaterial which assists in holding the plugs in place.

While it is envisaged that the electrodes may be metal elements or ringsapplied to the outside of the arm and the coupling means may beadditional members, perhaps plastics plugs, a preferred embodiment ofthe invention combines the electrodes and the coupling means andprovides electrodes which are fitted to the ends of the arm and whichhave protruding plug portions for accepting the ends of the tube. Theelectrodes in this arrangement preferably have an outer cylindricalportion which conforms to the outer cross-section of the arm and tube.The cylindrical portion may be flush with the outer surfaces of the armand tube. Preferably, however, the cylindrical portion is barrelshapedand overlaps the ends of the tube and arm. The end edges of thecylindrical portion are preferably rounded to prevent irritation of thevagina.

The invention includes within its scope a pessary ring structure asdescribed above when assembled and the components thereof ready forassembly.

The invention will further be described hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled pessary ring structure inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the assembly of the structureof FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 to 7 are cross-sectional views showing successive stages in themanufacture of the first limb of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 8 is an elevation, cross-sectioned in part, of one of the electrodemembers of the structure.

Referring to FIG. 1 the pessary ring structure comprises a first limb lterminating in electrode members 2 and 3 and a second limb 4 coupled atits ends to the electrode members. The whole constitutes a flexible ringwhich may be fitted to a female patient so that the electrodes 2 and 3make contact with spaced parts of the vaginal region. A pair 5 ofinsulated electrical conductor leads passes through the wall of limb land terminates in an electrical plug whereby stimulating potentials maybe applied. The members of the pair are connected respectively to theelectrodes 2 and 3 and application of appropriate stimulating potentialsactivate the patients muscles to overcome urinary incontinence.

A difflculty with a pessary ring structure of the kind described is thatit requires to be appropriate size for the individual patient. Thestructure shown in the drawings overcomes this difficulty by allowingthe patient's doctor to adjust the ring size as appropriate. This ispossible by providing initially the limb 4 as a long tube so that thedoctor may tailor the ring to size by cutting off an appropriate length.FIG. 2 shows one end of the tube of limb 4 detached from its electrode 3so as to be cut before coupling to the electrode. Electrode 3 has a plugportion 6 with backwardly facing annular teeth 7 which allow the tube 4,which is a vinyl tube, to be pushed on the plug portion but which impedewithdrawal of the tube.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 to 7 there are shown successive stages in themanufacture of limb l. Firstly (FIG. 3) a length 8 of vinyl tubing istaken which has a length of 2 /2 inches, an outside diameter of one-halfinch, an inside diameter of one-fourth inch and a hardness of 70. Thetube is cut with square ends and a inch hole 9 is drilled in the middle.

The two-core lead 5 is passed through hole 9 and the individual wirestaken out through opposite ends of the tube (FIG. 4).

Each wire is welded on to a respective electrode member 2, 3 (to bedescribed in detail with reference to FIG. 8) and the electrode membersare pushed home into the ends of the tube (FIGS. 5 and 6). Finally,referring now to FIG. 7, the interior of the tube is filled by means ofa syringe 10 applied to hole 9 with a resin which sets in a flexiblecondition, the resin used in this case being Scotchcast 221 resinmanufactured by the 3 Ms Company. This is a flexible, transparentpolyurethane. After mixing and degassing the resin constituents theresin is injected until all the trapped air is removed. The resin isthen cured at C for 7 hours.

The ring is finished by providing the vinyl tube 4, cutting to lengthand inserting the ends on to the projecting plug portions of theelectrode members.

Referring now to FIG. 8 there is shown one of the electrode members ingreater detail. The member is made of titanium. Alternative metalsinclude stainless steel, palladium, platinum, gold, alloys of the inertmetals and platinised titanium. The outer surface of the electrode maybe plated with a suitable metal from the group described above if thebody of the electrode is of some other metal.

The electrode member has an annular ring portion 1 1 supported by a web12 on a central body 13. The body has opposed plug portions 14 and 15for fitting the tubes of the arm 1 and the limb 4. The plug portionshave annular teeth 16 which are backwardly facing so as to engage theinner walls of the tubes to obstruct withdrawal. The rims of the tubesare accommodated behind ring portion 11 which has its ends 17 rounded toprevent irritation of the vagina. A threaded hole 18 may be used forsecuring the lead in conjunction with a screw and tab (not shown).

We claim:

l. A pessary ring structure comprising first and second limbs adapted tofit together to constitute a closed flexible pessary ring, the firstlimb comprising a flexible arm, a metal electrode at or near each end ofthe arm and an insulated conductor lead connected to each electrode, theleads extending from the arm for the remote application of stimulatingpotentials, and the second limb comprising a flexible tube which may becut to a desired length to make the complete ring fit a particularpatient, there being provided coupling means for coupling the ends ofthe tube to the respective ends of the arm.

2. A pessary ring structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the couplingmeans comprises a plug for each end of the tube, the plugs fitting theends of the tube tightly and being attached to the ends of the arm.

3. A pessary ring structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the arm istubular, at least at its ends and the plugs are inserted in place in thetubular ends.

-4. A pessary ring structure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the arm istubular and is filled with a flexible sealing material which assists inholding the plugs in place.

5. A pessary ring structure as claimed in claim I wherein the couplingmeans are the electrodes, which are fitted to the ends of the arm whichhave protruding plug portions for accepting the ends of the tube.

6. A pessary ring structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein each electrodehas a barrel-shaped cylindrical

1. A pessary ring structure comprising first and second limbs adapted tofit together to constitute a closed flexible pessary ring, the firstlimb comprising a flexible arm, a metal electrode at or near each end ofthe arm and an insulated conductor lead connected to each elecTrode, theleads extending from the arm for the remote application of stimulatingpotentials, and the second limb comprising a flexible tube which may becut to a desired length to make the complete ring fit a particularpatient, there being provided coupling means for coupling the ends ofthe tube to the respective ends of the arm.
 2. A pessary ring structureas claimed in claim 1 wherein the coupling means comprises a plug foreach end of the tube, the plugs fitting the ends of the tube tightly andbeing attached to the ends of the arm.
 3. A pessary ring structure asclaimed in claim 2 wherein the arm is tubular, at least at its ends andthe plugs are inserted in place in the tubular ends.
 4. A pessary ringstructure as claimed in claim 3 wherein the arm is tubular and is filledwith a flexible sealing material which assists in holding the plugs inplace.
 5. A pessary ring structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein thecoupling means are the electrodes, which are fitted to the ends of thearm which have protruding plug portions for accepting the ends of thetube.
 6. A pessary ring structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein eachelectrode has a barrel-shaped cylindrical portion which overlaps theends of the tube and arm.